Temporary relief for Anil Ambani:Bombay HC says govt can’t file court case against troubled businessman in alleged ₹420 crore tax evasion case until further order

The Bombay High Court said on Wednesday, 10 June 2026, that the Income Tax (IT) Department can’t take a prosecution action (file court case) and can’t penalise the troubled businessman, Anil Ambani in an alleged ₹420 crore tax evasion case. The Bombay High Court has granted interim protection from prosecution and penalty to the industrialist while admitting his petition challenging the constitutional validity of provisions of the Black Money Act. Black Money Act’s provisions violate Indian Constitution: Anil Ambani Ambani, in his plea, said certain provisions of the (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015, were “ultra vires” (beyond the powers/violative) to the Constitution of India. A bench of Justices B P Colabawalla and Firdosh Pooniwalla on Tuesday noted that there are other petitions filed in HC against the Act and admitted Ambani’s plea, which will be taken up for final hearing in due course. Bombay HC asks govt to file appeal The court directed the Union government to file its affidavit in response to the plea.

The HC noted that an assessment order against Ambani has already been passed and that he has filed an appeal before the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals).
The said appeal can proceed and orders can be passed thereon. However, we clarify that no coercive action shall be taken against the petitioner, including that of prosecution and penalty, till the hearing and final disposal of this writ petition. – Bombay HC What is the tax evasion case against Ambani? The Income Tax department had issued a notice to Ambani on August 8, 2022, for allegedly evading ₹420 crore in taxes on undisclosed funds of more than ₹814 crore held in two Swiss bank accounts. Amabni survives a possible 10-yr jail term because of the interim relief As per the department’s notice, Ambani was liable to be prosecuted under Sections 50 and 51 of the Black Money Act, which stipulates a maximum punishment of 10 years imprisonment with a fine. Ambnai didn’t disclose Swiss bank a/c details in ITR: I-T dept The department has charged Ambani with “wilful” evasion, claiming he “intentionally” did not disclose his foreign bank account details and financial interests to Indian tax authorities. The department alleged that Ambani “failed to disclose” these foreign assets in his tax filings. The total value of the undisclosed funds in the two accounts has been assessed by tax officials at ₹8,14,27,95,784, and tax payable on this amount at ₹4,20,29,04,040.